Nuru International Celebrates It’s Third Birthday

It’s really hard to believe it has been three years since Jake, Doug, Janine, and Nicole left the United States and flew for two days to arrive in Nairobi. From there, they hopped in a matatu (bus), and began the eight hour journey toward one of the most remote corners of Kenya, and the nation’s second poorest district (county), Kuria.

I remember when Nuru was just an idea that my friends Jake and John had started contemplating late at night over many cups of coffee. I remember talking with John as Jake was finishing up his first year of grad school at Stanford. His goal, to develop a holistic, sustainable, scalable model to help people who live on less than a dollar a day to lift themselves out of that condition. He wanted the organization to be results oriented with a clear exit strategy, and long term going into some of the most desperate places on earth.

Some ideas are good, but they never get legs and they stay on the drawing board. But Nuru has been different. Virtually everyone we have been able to talk to 'gets' what we are doing, and they want to be part of it. They know that the solution isn’t handouts or isolated interventions. They know from their own experience that when they have been equipped with tools and knowledge, they have been able to do amazing things, and the story has the potential to develop in the same way anywhere in the world.

Three years ago, there were a handful of people in Kenya who were willing to trust and collaborate together with Jake, Nicole, Janine, and later others. And now, there are over 10,000 people who have been able to experience lasting positive change in their community as a result of their own community’s leadership and willingness to work together to forge a better future for people in their own community and beyond.

And back here in the States, there has existed a small skeleton of staff, and a growing number of volunteers, advocates, investors, and supporters who see the condition of our global neighbors and have been inspired to act. Again, I remember when Nuru’s grassroots movement was composed of a handful of activist in the hills of Appalachia who believed together that we could change the world and make a significant impact in ending extreme poverty, together, one community at a time.

Now, there are literally thousands of people who have joined Nuru’s work. They follow us on twitter, friend us on facebook, tell their friends and neighbors, and invest their time and money into inspiring others to confront the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation—extreme poverty. Together, we have taken Nuru’s story to other organizations, to schools, churches, and to our workplaces. We’ve reminded people that there is hope, and they have an incredible opportunity to join with us in this work. And, they have joined us, and together, we are becoming a movement, an unstoppable force, a revolution, as we work to make a lasting impact in the world.

As Nuru celebrates its third birthday, I am grateful for the opportunity to work together with so many. I’m grateful that we have a panoply of significant and incremental successes that we can celebrate. But more than this, I’m excited for the future. We have learned so much over these last three years. We have become more focused in our efforts, and we have had a steadily increasing impact in our work. Together, I believe we can change the world.

As Jake so often says, may we continue to ‘stay in the fight’ and see even more of our global neighbors have lives filled with opportunity and choice instead of desperation. Together, we are ending extreme poverty, one community at a time. Thanks for being Nuru together with us wherever you are in the world. Your contribution is more significant than you know!

And as a small gesture, I want to make a birthday wish request of you. Will you share this video with at least three of your friends, and let them see some of what we have been able to accomplish together over the last three years?

Thanks for being Nuru!

Nuru International 2010 Annual Report: Stories Of Changed Lives

Elias Sinda's Story from Nuru International on Vimeo.

Earlier this month, Nuru released it’s annual report in a really different format. Some organizations send out a brief financial statement to donors; others send a more extensive printed annual report (Nuru did this last year). This year, we thought we would do something really different. We posted our annual report online in a really cool interactive format. I highly recommend you take some time to check it out here.

In the meantime, I thought you would enjoy watching this video of Elias Sinda and hearing about how Nuru’s work in his community has equipped him with the tools and knowledge to help his family lift itself out of extreme poverty. Elias’ story is one of hundreds being written in what is the second poorest district in all of Kenya. With Nuru’s help, the people of Kuria are turning desperate conditions into a world of opportunities. They are learning how to prevent waterborne illness. They are growing enough food to feed themselves,. They are insuring their children are enrolled in school because now they have income that will allow them to pay the nominal school fees. It’s truly wonderful to see.

In spite of the drought that has wreaked havoc across the Horn of Africa, Nuru farmers are thriving. It is truly a joy to know that lives are changing in Kuria, and that you and I get the opportunity to be part of it. Thanks for watching, and thanks for being involved. And if you haven’t gotten involved yet, now is a great time to start.

Nuru Regional Training Center

Regional Training Center from Nuru International on Vimeo.

I love this short video featuring Nuru Kenya’s Chairman, Philip Mohochi.  It’s amazing to think how much change has taken place.  As of fall, 2010, 7000 people have participated in Nuru’s programs in Kuria, Kenya.  Seven THOUSAND!!!  In September 2008, there were NONE!!!

This year, Nuru is expanding to provide tools and trainings even more people.  Right now, over 10,000 people will benefit from Nuru’s work in Kuria.  And we are still growing and scaling.  It’s truly amazing to think about the future, and what this work will mean for fighting poverty everywhere.

The Regional Training Center in Kuria, Kenya will help even more leaders receive the training they need to help their communities to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.  Leader by leader, community by community, family by family, we are ending extreme poverty, together, one community at a time!

Weeping With Tears of Joy

You know, sometimes one can get so overwhelmed with emotion that words don't fully express. I wonder if tears are some type of biological response to being so saturated with emotion that it leaks out in salt water drops from one's eyes. Maybe tears are liquid emotion.

So lately I've found myself weeping a lot with gratitude. I look around me and I see blessings that are unfathomable, and I'm speechless. Even as I've started writing this little post, I've been weeping.

You see, I've been so privileged to be able to do work that I love, and to do this work together with my friends. And it's happened for years. My friends are so special and so precious to me, and I love it when we can do things together.

The photo above was taken three weeks ago when a group of friends gathered together to assemble and mail out packages to the many people who have begun financially supporting the work of Nuru. We had a full evening of hard work, joy, and laughter, and I treasure times like that.  I also think about what is happening as a result of nights like that. Literally thousands of people's lives have been changed forever.

My friend Jake was talking with a group of people about tears too. Jake had recently shown a video from Nuru called "I AM NURU" to a group of Kenyan leaders in Kuria. As the video was playing, tears began to well up in the eyes of the Kenyan staff. Jake apologized to Philip Mohochi, the chairman of the Community Develop Community for the video because he was afraid it had upset these Kenyan leaders.

Philip looked at Jake and said, "There's no need to be sorry. We are not crying because we are sad. We are crying because we are in awe that so many people who live half-way around the world care this much about us here in Kuria!"

It is a beautiful thing indeed when people give of their time, talents, and resources to care for others.

And here I am in Morgantown, WV weeping with tears of joy for the opportunity I've been given with my friends to be hope, to be light, and to be Nuru.

Reading and Seeing Proverbs

This morning I read this ancient Hebrew proverb, and it has been stuck in my mind all morning. The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. It stirred me so much I figured I would tweet it and share it with others too, but here's why I think it had the affect that it did.

As you probably know, I work for a non-profit that helps rural communities living in extreme poverty lift themselves out of extreme poverty in a period of five years or less. It's called Nuru International. It was started by two really great friends of mine who I've known for half of my life. The organization is called Nuru International, and if you haven't already, you should check it out because it's doing some pretty amazing work--and it's proving ancient Hebrew proverbs true.

You see, in the communities where Nuru is now working, there are a number of farmers. Before Nuru arrived, these farmers would produce one to three bags of maize per acre of their land, which isn't enough to feed their family through the following growing season. These people were malnourished and living without opportunities. At one time their land had sustained the entire community, but after colonization, this community was converted to be tobacco farmers, and the land began to lose it's vitality for growing crops. These people had lost a very productive way of life, and because they were "off the radar" of the rest of the world, suffered the injustice of a lack of opportunities and livelihood because they lived in extreme poverty.


Less than two years ago, the Nuru's first foundation team arrived in the community and began to listen to the unique problems of the community from agriculture to water and healthcare. The staff of Nuru came alongside the people of Kuria, Kenya and helped them to begin the process of lifting themselves out of extreme poverty. Nobody should have to suffer like these people did and many others do on a daily basis.

As a result of somebody caring enough to come alongside this community, the fallow ground of these poor farmers is now producing 12-15 bags of maize per acre. When we come face-to-face with injustice, and choose the way of justice changes happen. People are empowered and have opportunities and choices where at one time there was despair and oppression.

Now it can be said, The fallow ground of the poor does yield much food, when injustice is swept away!

Will you consider joining Nuru in its efforts to end extreme poverty?

As you go about your day today, may you look for ways to sweep away injustice so that the potential of others may be fully realized.

Inspiring words from Bono about ending Extreme Poverty

Bono, originally uploaded by Timothy Schenck.

Back in January, my then girlfriend, and now fiancée shared a quote with me from Bono through a facebook message. I have left the message marked as unread for the last eight months so I could one day sit down and write a blog post about it.

Here’s the quote.

It's an amazing thing to think that ours is the first generation in history that really can end extreme poverty, the kind that means a child dies for lack of food in its belly. That should be seen as the most incredible, historic opportunity but instead it's become a millstone around our necks. We let our own pathetic excuses about how it's "difficult" justify our own inaction. Be honest. We have the science, the technology, and the wealth. What we don't have is the will, and that's not a reason that history will accept.

I love the quote because it’s both inspiring and challenging. I think about Bono and the mixed reviews he gets in the social justice circles, but I must admit I’m inspired by his perseverance in his efforts to end extreme poverty. Since the 1980s Bono and U2 have worked pretty tirelessly to expose their fans to more than a concert or some new tunes. They have pushed, prodded, and encouraged engagement with the hurts of this world. I can remember being very young listening to U2 and hearing about their work toward justice, long before I had any inkling of the severity of hurt and suffering that exists in our world. Bono inspires in this quote by pointing to a truth that all of my friends at Nuru and in many other development organizations hold to tenaciously—we can end extreme poverty!

I believe with all of my being that we can! But what I wonder about is whether we have the will to accomplish the task. As much as there are a growing number of people who have said enough is enough, ours is a generation of distraction as well. Saying yes to ending extreme poverty means that we need people who will persevere in contributing to the end. It doesn’t mean that every person needs to change their career, but for some it does. It did for me. It doesn’t mean that every person needs to contribute financially to ending extreme poverty, but again, for some it does. Again, it did for me. What it does mean, is that every person needs to take stock of their life and ask if they care enough to do something. I believe it’s going to take a contribution from all who are able if we want to see the end of extreme poverty.

When she shared this quote, she sent me an additional note, and encouraged me by saying, “You have the ‘will,’ keep running hard!” I know that there are many who have already joined the fight, and who are contributing toward ending extreme poverty, but there is still much work to do. Will you run with me? Will you exercise the power of your will to eradicate this generation’s greatest humanitarian crisis?

There are over one billion people on our planet who are waiting for you to join us in the fight!

Let’s go!